Scottish 2nd Division
Saturday 13th December 03

(Berwick: McCutcheon 49, Neil 54;
Morton: J. Maisano 27, 39; Weatherson 58)

A GAME that had everything for the fans, including commitment, excitement and goals, ended with league leaders Morton happy to leave Shielfield with another three points which helped stretch their advantage at the top of the table to 12 points.

For, despite a double strike by man of the match John Maisano it was goalkeeper Craig Coyle who took all the plaudits at the end, as he produced a match-winning double save on his line in the final minute which prevented Berwick from snatching a deserved share of the spoils.

Rangers, who started the day in second place, are the only team to have inflicted a league defeat on the Greenock side this season following their 3-1 win at Cappielow. And from the way in which they set out — Gareth Hutchison and Grant McNichol both spurned good early chances — they could have been 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes.

But the sting went out of their game following an eight minute delay when referee Crawford Allan was forced to leave the field after 23 minutes with a pulled muscle. His assistant, Ewan Young, took over with the whistle while a successful appeal was made to the crowd for another linesman — not the first time that has happened in a Morton game this season!

Only four minutes after the re-start John Maisano broke the deadlock with a sublime curled left foot shot from outside the area which beat goalkeeper Neil Inglis in his bottom right hand corner.

Then, in 39 minutes, he struck again, a skidding shot from 25 yards out finding its way through a crowded goalmouth and into the net off the inside of the far post.

On the run of play Berwick probably didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half-time, but early in the second half they staged a fightback and drew level at 2-2 with goals from Gary McCutcheon in the 49th minute and Martin Neil in the 54th. McCutcheon neatly stroked the ball home after a Paul Hampshire free kick was headed down to him in the box and Neil timed his jump just right to head in a David Murie cross at the back peg.

But, in an entertaining game, in which both teams went out to attack, it was Peter Weatherson who hit Morton’s killer third goal in the 58th minute when he collected a pass from the right, turned his marker and fired in a low shot which went through Inglis’s legs.

McNicholl, who had been shown a yellow card as early as the third minute, then saw red in 77 for a second bookable offence and Berwick’s task was made all the more difficult. Chances came and went at either end, but none more so than in the 90th minute when a free kick from the halfway line somehow found its way through to a surprised Coyle. He reacted by palming it off the line and then somehow managed to get down and smother the ball in the ensuing scramble despite the close attention of two Berwick forwards.

Afterwards, Morton boss John McCormack said: “That was a great game of football. The fans were the real winners, but I am just happy to take all three points because I thought we just shaded it over the piece. That’s to take nothing away from Berwick because they put up a good fight.”

Rangers’ manager Paul Smith added: “It was a superb match. Both teams went out to play attacking football but I am disappointed we didn’t take a point because I thought we deserved at least that.”

Berwick: Inglis, Murie, Bennett (Smith 85), McNicholl, Cowan, Neil, Waldie (McCormick 72), Connell (Neill 79), Hutchison, McCutcheon, Hampshire.

Morton: Coyle, Bannerman, Bottiglieri, McGregor, Greacan, M. Maisano, Miller (Connie 68), J. Maisano, Williams, Weatherson, Walker.

Booked: McNicholl, Neil, Connell (all Berwick); M Maisano, Weatherson (both Morton).

Sent off: McNicholl (Berwick).

Referee: Crawford Allan (retired hurt 23, replaced by Ewan Young).

Attendance: 882.

This story appeared in the Greenock Telegraph on Mon, 15 Dec, 2003